Sheet-metal-folding machine



Y EINE.

en dMar. 4, 1890.

(NO Model.)

y W. DIX() SHEET METAL EoLDI MS-ENTOR z WITNEssEs =v UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

IVALTER DIXON, OF NORTH ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

SHEET-METAL-FOLDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 422,744, dated March 4,1890.

Application iiled December 2, 1889. Serial No. 332,341. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, VALTER DIXON, a citizen of the United States,residing at North St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSlieet-lVIetal-Folding Machines; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to thefigures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of thisspecification.

This invent-ion relates to that class of sheet metal bending machinescommonly used for the purpose of forming the lock in the edges ofstave-pipe blanks, `and is specifically an improvement upon thatparticular variety of machine known as Vrights Folder.

The machine referred to, upon which my invention is an improvement,consists of a bed and a swinging folding-bar hinged thereto and having alever by which it is operated. The folding-bar carries a plate or gage,around which the metal is to be folded, and by means of which the edgeof the blank is clamped to the folding-bar during the operation ofbending by a side movement of the operating-lever, with which thegage-plate is connected. The edge of the bed is provided with a grooveor rabbet of slightly larger dimensions than the gage-plate and inposition to receive the same when brought forward by the operation ofthe lever. The

' edge of the blank is bent around three sides of the gageplate, and theother edge of the blank being similarly bent in the opposite directionthe two parts of the lock are formed. It is, however, necessary, inorder to prevent the disengagement of the interlocking parts thusformed, that the part of the body of one side of the blank should becreased or bent in a reverse direction at the edge of the interlockedparts. This is commonly done by means of a swage or grooverf as it isknown to the trade, having a groove along its face of a size to receivethe seam formed by the interlocked parts, and by means of which a creaseis formed upon one side of the joint,

thus closing the lock. The jointis then hammered or the parts otherwisebrought closely together, completing the operation.

The object of thepresent invention is to provide, in connection withmachines of this class, means whereby the looking-crease may be formedsimultaneously with the bending of the edges of the blank, thus entirelydis pensing with the use of the groover ata great saving in the matterof time, with greater accuracy, and with less liability to injury to themetal.

The improvement is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichdFigure l represents a cross-section of a machine of the class describedprovided with my attachments; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the mannerof operation of my attachments, and Fig. 3 a cross-section of the lockformed by this operation.

In the drawings, l represents the bed of the machine, supported in anysuitable manner, to which is hinged the folding-bar 2, adapted to beoperated by means of alever or handle 3. Upon the back of thefolding-bar 2 is mounted the gage-plate 4, consisting of an angle-platehaving one leg attached to the back of the folding-bar, and the otherextending a short distance over the top of the same, leaving a spaceunderneath the extending edge for the reception of the edge of theblank. The gage is so mounted upon the folding-bar as to be capable of asliding movement vertically with reference thereto, and is so connectedwith the handle or lever 3 as to be operated by a side movement of thesame to clamp the edge of the blank against the foldn ingtbar. By theoperation of the lever 3 the vfoldingmbar is swung over against the bed,as

shown in Fig. 2, the gage being received by a rabbet 5, formed in theouter edge of the bed in position to register therewith. By thisoperation a U-sl1aped fold is formed in the edge of the blank by beingbent around the gagedplate between the folding-bar and the bed.

The construction and operation as thus far described are common and wellunderstood; but for the purpose of forming the crease necessary tocomplete the lock I attach to the foldingbar, outside the gage-plate, anaddi- IOO tional plate or straight-edge 6. This plate 6 projectsupwardly a little beyond the top of the gage-plate, and when thefolding-bar is brought over, as shown in Fig. 2, overlaps the outer edgeof the bed 1. The action upon the blank is to bend the same in a reversedirection over the edge of the bed, thus forming the required creasesimultaneously with the bending. The two folds are th en interlocked andhammered or rolled together land the lock is complete.

For the purpose of enabling the plate 6 to be moved back, so as notv tooverlap the edge of the bed when the machine is 'to be used for purposesin which the creasing operation is not required, the plate is soattached to the folding-bar as to be adjustable with reference thereto.This adj ustability may be accomplishedin any suitable manner. As aconvenient method, the plate maybe secured to the folding-.bar 'by meansof screws set onto the bar and passing through diagonal slots in theplate.

A further improvement consists in an attachment for the purpose of morecompletely formingthe lock. This consists of aplate 7, Y

secured to the edge of the bed in such a manner as to project slight] yabove the sanne just inside the plate Gand between the latterand thegage, -whenthe latter is brought over in the act of bending,.as shown inFig. 2. The edge of Athe bed-plate 7 is preferably chiselshaped, and itsaction is to slightly depress the body of the `blank toward-the foldededge, nearly closing the entrance within the fold.

VThe plate then acts to bend the Vblank in a reverse direction fromandaround the edge of the plate 7. The efect of the plate. 7 visshownclearly inlig. 3 at 8. This plate-may be made adjustable in thesame manner and for the same purpose as described with reference to theplate 6.

I claim as my inventionl. In a machine for folding sheet metal, thecombination, with the bed having a groove or rabbet in its outer edge,folding-bar hinged to the inner edge of the bed, and gage-plate attachedto said folding-bar and extending parallel therewith in position toregister with the rabbet in the bed when the folding-bar is brought overagainst the bed, of a straightedged plateadjustably secured to thefolding-bar behind said gage-plate in position to extend by the edge ofthe bed when the bar isv brought forward, or to be moved back so thatits edge is iiush with the edge of the folding-bar whenits use is notrequired, substantially as and for the-purpose `herein specified.

2.. In a machine for folding sheet metal, the combination, with thebedhaving .arabbet at its outer edge, folding-bar hinged-to the inneredge of the bed, and gage-plate attached to said folding-bar andextendingparallel there-A with in position to register with the rabbetinf the bed,of a platesecured to the folding-.bar

behind said gage-plate imposition to overlap the edge ofthe bed when-thebar is brought forward, and an upwardly-projecting; plate secured to theouter edge of the bed-in position to enter the space between saidk gageand the plate carried by the folding-bar, substantially as and for thepurpose herein specified.

In testimony whereof I affii my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER DIXON. Witnesses:

F. W. LANE, THos. T. FAUNTLEROY..

